president's address. 1223 



" The Forest Flora " of that Colony with illustrations of Eucalyptus 

 &c. Mr. Brown acknowledges his obligations to Baron F. von 

 Mueller for the elucidation and classification of Plants. 



Some of the latest information respecting Western Australian 

 Plants is contained in Baron F. von Mueller's descriptions of the 

 collections made by the Hon. J. Forrest, C.M.G., &c., around 

 Sharks Bay and its vicinity. 



Dr. Woolls, F.L.S., has sent to the Linnean Society of New 

 South Wales during the last year Papers on " Naturalised Plants," 

 "The Myrtacese," and " Protaceee." He is also printing in a 

 popular form a List of the Plants of New South Wales with 

 occasional notes on the same. 



The Botanical world has sustained a great loss in the death of 

 the venerable George Bentham, F.R.S., C.M.G., &c , for many 

 years one of the most distinguished and indefatigable Botanists of 

 Europe. His name will be ever associated with the Flora of 

 Australia from the fact of his having devoted, in connection with 

 Baron F. von Mueller, sixteen years to the preparation and 

 publication of the " Flora Australiensis " in seven volumes. 



In my last address I alluded to the possibility of effecting 

 improvements in our fodder ])lants, fruits, cereals and flowers, by 

 means of artificial cross fertilization. 



In reference to this interesting suVjject, I am assured by my 

 friend, Mr. W, Farrer, B.A., L.S., who takes a special interest in 

 this branch of practical science, and particularly in the production 

 of improved vai'ieties of wheat, that systematic work is being 

 done, and during several years has been done (and especially in 

 America) in this direction. Two of the numerous hybrid wheats 

 that Mr. Pringle has pi'oduced — the "Defiance" and "The 

 Champlain " — are pretty well known in Australia. Professor 

 Blount, also, of the .University of Colorado, has taken in hand 

 the production of new and improved varieties of wheat by this 

 means ; and from a letter lately received from him by my friend, 

 I learn that he has 41 varieties which he himself has originated 

 by hybridization, and one of them has been pronounced by the 

 Government Chemist at Washington, to be the best milling wheat 



